Quiz: Atoms Overview

Quiz: Atoms Overview

QUESTION 1:
Which of these choices is not a major part of an atom?
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons
All are parts of an atom.

CORRECT!
All of these particles are found in atoms. Hydrogen is a little special because it does not have a neutron, but all of the other elements have varying numbers of electrons, neutrons, and protons. Neutral atoms have the same number of electrons and protons.

QUESTION 2:
An isotope is a form of an atom with a different number of...
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons
All of the Above

CORRECT!
Isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons. Ions are atoms with different numbers of electrons. Isotopes can have more or less neutrons than a regular atom of an element. Many isotopes are radioactive.

QUESTION 3:
The atomic number of an element tells you the number of ______.
Electrons or Neutrons
Electrons or Protons
Protons or Neutrons

CORRECT!
The atomic number of an element tells you the number of electrons or neutrons found in a neutral atom of that element. Ions have varying numbers of electrons and isotopes have varying numbers of neutrons.

QUESTION 4:
An ion is a form of an atom with a different number of...
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons
All of the Above

CORRECT!
Ions are atoms with different numbers of electrons when compared to neutral atoms of the same element. You will often see ions with values of + or - 1, 2, or 3.

QUESTION 5:
Which of these particles is found in the atomic nucleus?
Electrons and Protons
Neutrons and Electrons
Protons and Neutrons

CORRECT!
Protons and neutrons are both found in the nucleus of an atom. Electrons are very small particles found spinning around the nucleus in different orbitals.

QUESTION 6:
Which scientist is NOT associated with the study of atomic structure?
Niels Bohr
Ernest Rutherford
Friedrich Hund
All of these scientists worked with atomic structure.

CORRECT!
All of these scientists made contributions to the study of atomic structure. Niels Bohr studied electron orbitals. Bohr developed the classic spherical electron orbital structure. Friedrich Hund developed a "rule of maximum multiplicity" which discusses electron spins and atomic energy states. Ernest Rutherford is considered to be the father of nuclear physics. He did a lot of work studying atomic orbitals and atomic nuclei.

QUESTION 7:
All electrons orbit the nucleus in regions shaped like spheres.
True
False

CORRECT!
Originally, scientists thought electrons orbited the nucleus of an atom is spherical areas. As more advanced studies were done, many different orbital shapes were discovered. Chemists use the letters s, p, d, and f to label different orbitals.

QUESTION 8:
Scientists use spectroscopy to identify elements.
True
False

CORRECT!
Scientists use spectroscopy to identify elements and compounds. Every element has unique line spectra. When the results of the spectroscopy are studied, scientists can pick out the different elements in the sample. Spectroscopy is often used by orbiting spacecraft to analyze chemicals on other planets.

QUESTION 9:
You cannot know the exact location of an electron.
True
False

CORRECT!
You cannot ever know the exact location of an electron. There will always be some margin of error because they are so small and even light can knock them around. Equations can tell you places you should find them, but never the exact spot at one moment in time.

QUESTION 10:
Atoms in the same family of elements on the periodic table share similar characteristics.
True
False

CORRECT!
Elements in the same groups such as the halogens or inert gases often share similar chemical properties. These properties might include relative atomic radius, electronegativity, or ionization energy. All of the inert gases are very nonreactive while all of the halogens are very reactive.